Treadmill 6.25

Tested out my 10K time today on the treadmill. Thinking of doing a race during our local Hillbilly Days festival this weekend. I decided to dedicate this run to a local responder & picked Chief Billy R. Jarvis of the Allen Volunteer Fire Dept. 

I was both honored & humbled to go with Lanett as she met his family & presented the Supporting Heroes mission. Though I didn't personally know him, we had mutual friends & some of my family even worked with him. I was contacted about his passing by a friend of his that had run our Heroes' Challenge race & contacted one of our committee members. Being able to reach out to these families is such a blessing.  

While responding to an emergency call of a downed power line, Chief Jarvis became ill and had difficulty breathing. His son, who is a Captain on the Fire Department and was in the vehicle with him, took over driving and rushed him to the closest hospital. Upon arrival there, Chief Jarvis went into cardiac arrest. He was resuscitated and transferred to the Pikeville Medical Center where he died of the apparent heart attack six days later.

He was 54 & gave 35 years in service. He left behind his loving family, friends & department family. God bless them all. 

Police Week begins...

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation declaring May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day & the entire week as Police Week. In honor of this I will dedicate my workouts this week to fallen law enforcement officers. 

With today's heat, I kept it inside. I did 5 miles on the bike & 1.5 miles on the treadmill. Working toward my next goal, whatever that might be. 

Tonight I start with Sheriff Sam L. Greene from Rowan County Sheriff Department. Sheriff Green was assisting a city police officer in serving a warrant to a suspect from an earlier domestic disturbance when he was shot and killed. The suspect shot Sheriff Green with a 16 gauge shotgun at the rear of the house and stole Sheriff Green's gun. The suspect shot and wounded the city officer as he fled the scene, but was caught 45 minutes later.

The suspect who was convicted and givena life sentence was released 12 years later. He died from tuberculosis.

Sheriff Green was 59 & gave 12 years in service. He left his wife behind. 

End of watch: 12-31-1962

Now what...?

Now that the mini has come & gone, I find myself wondering what's next. I plan to keep dedicating my runs, I just have to figure out my next goal. I'm planning a triathlon in February. I might attempt a full marathon in November...if I decide I'm completely crazy. No matter what comes next I will still spread the word & mission of Supporting Heroes!! God bless!!

I DID IT!!!!

I DID IT!!!! Race day has come & gone. It's the morning after & I'm finally getting to write this...soaking in an Epsom bath 😊. This weekend has been a crazy whirlwind full of emotions, nausea, laughter...& pain. But it was SO worth it!! 

The Indy 500 Mini Marathon was AMAZING!! Never have I been in such a massive race (35,000+), seen belly dancers & dancing colored blobs, high 5ed tons of kids & a couple if cows, & been sung to by a Bob Marley cover band, neighborhood garage bands, pirates, the Soggy Bottom Boys, drunk bikers & a polka band...AND I got to kiss the famous yard of bricks!! This race was like a 13+ mile party!! I'm not fast at all. I basically kept to my planned pace (until some serious pain set in) & I'm happy about that. I got the chance to discuss Supporting Heroes with some fellow runners & even snapped selfies with some officer & firefighters. I crossed the finish line, cried...& puked. It was crazy insane!! 

This race, as were the training runs, was dedicated to the fallen public safety heroes & their survivors, but also to Scott Hopkins who helped introduce me to Supporting Heroes. He's fighting his own battle right now & he's an inspiration to me. All of these heroes are. What they have faced was never easy, but they persevered. They never gave up. They fought the fight & finished the race. As did I, for them. God bless all of the survivors as well as Scott & Melissa & family. 

"Run for them because they stood for you."

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."...2 Timothy 4:7

Final countdown...

It's race day!! As I lay here thinking of what's ahead I realize I forgot to post my last training run. It was a good one. I hit the streets for a last little round to try & settle my nerves on Tuesday, 4-28-15. I did the walk/run program I'm young during the race & I was pleasantly surprised!! My time was much lower than it's ever been. That's exciting but I'm still VERY nervous & anxious. 

This run was dedicated to Kentucky State Police Trooper Johnny Gordon Adkins. On 11-19-95 Trooper Adkins was involved in a fight during an arrest. During the fight, he suffered a chest injury and died from a heart attack five days later. He was a great, involved father who helped coach sports teams. He was a very social person & enjoyed having lots of people around. 

He left behind his wife & son who still misses him but smiles at the memories. He was 37 years old & gave 6 years in service. God bless his family & thank you for his service. 

Doubting myself...

Yesterday was Easter. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day filled with church, family, friends, food & egg hunts. Early in the day I started feeling overwhelmed as I thought of the race I'm preparing for. I don't feel ready. My runs aren't as long or as often as they should be. They're squeezed in between family, 2 jobs, 2 soccer teams, race planning... I seriously thought about dropping out of the race but with some supportive words from great people & this enlightening run, I realized I'll cross that finish line if I have to run, walk or crawl. I don't know that I've ever cried during a run before. I cried yesterday. These heroes never gave up. Neither will I. 

This run was dedicated to Kentucky State Trooper Jerome Scott "Butch" Clifton. I actually went to school & spent several years performing with his daughter Angie in our youth choir yet had no idea until about a year ago. She was only 3 & her sister was 9 when he was lost. 

Trooper Clifton recieved a gunshot wound to the leg while attempting to rescue hostages from a gunman. The gunman was actually holding his own family hostage. Another officer was also injured at the time. Trooper Clifton was taken to UK & underwent surgery to remove his leg in attempt to save his life however, his femoral artery had been severed. Trooper Clifton died three weeks later from the injury.

The suspect was convicted and sentenced to two years originally but it was overturned. He was sentenced to 20 years in a second trial, however, he was released for time served only doing 10 years. In 2004 the man died from natural causes. 

Trooper Clifton was a quiet, layer back man who loved his family & his dog. After 9 years in service, at age 30, he left behind his wife & 2 young daughters. God bless his family. 

6 miles & 2 bridges

It has been an absolutely beautiful weekend!! Got some things done around the house & got 6 miles in today with a good friend. We ran across the 79 year old Pauley Bridge & the bridge combo that crosses both US23 & the Big Sandy river in the Cut Thru. 

I let her pick who we ran for today so here goes. This one is for you Master Trooper David Anthony Deuter. 

Master Trooper David Deuter of the Indiana State Police was killed after being struck by a tractor trailer while making a traffic stop on the Indiana Toll Road in Howe, Indiana.

Trooper Deuter was standing next to the driver's side door of the vehicle when he was struck. The suspect was charged with reckless homicide in connection with Trooper Deuter's death.

This is just one of the reasons drivers should move over for stopped emergency vehicles. 

He was 49 & gave 15 years in service. He left behind his wife & 4 children. God bless them. 

End of Watch: 7-16-1998

3 at 5...

Things are getting hectic. Soccer is starting & I'm coaching 2 teams plus I'm still trying to catch up on my training for the Indy 500 Mini. So I'm back to running in the mornings. If I don't, it won't get done. 

This morning I ran 3 miles at 5am for Fire Chief Jimmy Zeeks. His brother got him into fire service & his son followed in his footsteps & is now chief of the same department, as did his nephew. He was the family jokster & his brother's best friend. 

Chief Zeeks and members of his department responded to a motor vehicle crash. After working the scene and preparing to clear, Chief Zeeks suddenly collapsed from an apparent heart attack.

Firefighters immediately started life saving efforts and he was rushed to a local hospital emergency room by EMS, but died a short time later.

He passed away on August 15, 2009 leaving his wife Myra, son Jason, daughter Ashley & 5 grandchildren. He gave 31 of his 54 years in service. Between himself, his brother, his son & nephew, they've spent a combined 110 in fire service. 

Thank you for your service & God bless your families. 

Hard one to process.

I started to abandon this early morning run on 1-5-15. It was SO cold!! Half a mile in I was almost numb. It was 27 degrees but felt like 20. I pushed through & before I knew it I was up to 1.25 miles. Why stop then? So I finished out 2.1 miles before work. I dedicate this run to EMT Laura Auman Halsey. Her story made me cry.

EMT Halsey, along with members of the Stroh Vol Fire Dept EMS and the LaGrange County EMS responded to a motor vehicle accident where a car had struck a tree. The patient was stabilized and loaded into the LaGrange ambulance. EMT Halsey drove to the hospital.

As the ambulance proceeded with lights and siren activated, a 17 year old driver crossed the center line and struck the ambulance head on. EMT Halsey and the 17 year old were killed instantly. It was 4:25am, four days before Christmas.

Paramedic Bryan Allred, who was attending the patient, died within 30 minutes of the accident from massive head injuries. Natalie Kocher, another Stroh EMT Vol, 22 and pregnant, was injured and taken to the hospital where her son was stillborn the next morning. The patient received additional injuries from the car-ambulance collision and later died, as did Mr. Hill's brother, David, who in attempting to get to his injured brother's side was involved in a fatal car crash.

At the time of her death, Laura was the EMS Director at Stroh Vol Fire Dept in charge of all the day-to-day operations of the service. She had been a devoted Advanced Emergency Technician for over four years, leaving a LaGrange County paid staff position and assuming the "full-time" role of Vol to accommodate her newly-wed status. She had been married for one year.

EMT Halsey was 25 years old & had spent 11 years in service. She left behind her husband & parents. God bless her families. 

 

Before the storm.

On January 4th I headed out for a couple miles before a storm blew in. 

This felt GREAT!! Way better times than I've had!! I reserved a room today so it looks like I'm actually doing a FULL MARATHON this year as well as my first half!! I squeezed in a couple miles to get my week started off right. Pushed to beat a coming storm. The temps dropped & it was pouring at one point but it passed & the clouds actually opened a tiny bit as I got home. 

This run is dedicated to Firefighter Donald Matt Raibley. Firefighter Raibley was responding to a residential house fire when he had a seizure and drove his car over a dam into a lake, where he drowned.

He was only 19 & had given 1 year in service. God bless his families. 

New Year run for responders

On January 2, 2015, I headed out & did a virtual 5K in honor of all first responders & to take a step toward my new goals. 

My goals to start 2015...10 miles & a 5K each week. I beat it!! This run is dedicated to all first responders killed in the line of duty in 2014. Far too many souls didn't get to see the new year. They died protecting, serving & saving regular people like us. Mostly strangers. 

Remember our police, firefighters, paramedics, including K9's, & their families in your prayers. God bless, cover & keep them all. 

Rainy evening run...

Rainy evening run after 30 min aerobic workout. Time to focus. The mini will be here before I know it!!

Dedicating today to firefighter Major Malcolm Jenkins. After completing a strenuous departmental agility test, including strenuous work in full gear, Major Jenkins did not return home. His family searched for several hours before finding him. He was sitting in his department vehicle at a closed gas station. He had passed away hours earlier of an apparent heart attack. 

Major Jenkins was 60 years old & had served for 31 years. He left behind his wife, 3 daughters & his 92 year old mother. God bless & comfort them. 

Angel on my shoulder...

Today during my run I looked over in a field. There stood 6 beautiful deer watching me. This instantly made me think of Lanett's post about Paramedic Gary Hammer. Each time I see deer I think of him, especially on a run. Perhaps the angel flying with me today was a paramedic. 

I ran today Chad Null. Firefighter/Paramedic Null had just returned to quarters after completing two medical emergency calls for service. Co-workers left the room briefly. When they returned, he was found unresponsive on the floor. Resuscitation efforts were immediately initiated and he was transported to an area hospital. He was later pronounced dead from an apparent heart attack.

He passed away 4 years ago today, December 16, 2010 at only 33 years old. He left behind his wife, a young daughter & son, his parents & his work family. 

Praying for their peace & healing. God bless them. 

 

Early morning 2...

I love early morning runs. I'm doing my best to get back to them. I like how I feel when I start my day like that. Sets a good tone. Plus I get it done before everything else gets in the way. On Dec 10, 2014 I hit the road at 5:30 to get in a couple miles. 

This morning I ran for a young man that was taken way too soon. Officer Nickolaus Schultz was shot after he and other officers responded on a Friday evening (Sept 5, 2014) to a condominium complex following a report that an evicted resident had returned to his former residence. The subject, who was wearing body armor, opened fire as officers entered. Officer Schultz was shot once in the head and was transported to the hospital where he was placed on life support. He was removed from life support Sunday morning (Sept 7, 2014) and later died.

Officer Schultz was only 24. He left behind his parents, a sister & his girlfriend. He had only served for 13 months. It's so tragic to lose someone, an officer, so young. 

God bless those he left behind. 

Nice day to run...

Today was very nice for the last day of November. It hit the 60's. I bought the full program on my running app so I gave a new interval set a try. It wore me out. Then I did stalls at the farm. Good workout today!!

Today was my first run in memory of a female. Flight Nurse Sandra Pearson was killed when her team's Bell 206 LongRanger helicopter crashed in a cornfield located outside Burney, IN. The accident occured at 1:17 p.m.

Flight Paramedic Wade Weston and Pilot Roger Warren were also killed in the accident.

The 3 participated in a community day sponsored by the Burney Volunteer Fire Department where their chopper was on display and were returning to their base in Rushville when the accident occured.

She was in service, saving lives, for 10 years when she & her teams lost theirs. She is survived by her 2 children & her parents. God bless those they left behind. 

Here's to you Robert "Bud" Webster...

While writing my last post I noticed the one about my run for Chief Firefighter Robert "Bud" Webster wasn't here. So I'm writing it again. 

On July 4th, 2006, Chief Webster and units of the Glencoe Fire Department were dispatched in response to a report of 'wires down' during a thunderstorm. While at the scene, a report was received of a motor vehicle crash on Interstate-71 with injuries and persons trapped. Chief Webster, driving the department's mini-pumper cleared the scene of the wires down and responded.

While en route to the crash, the mini-pumper slipped off the roadway and hit an embankment. The Chief was ejected from the apparatus and sustained critical injuries.

Chief Webster was mostly bedridden afterward with debilitating injuries. He died of complications of his injuries almost eight years later on May 6th, 2014. 

He passed away at the age of 64 & spent 12 years in service. He left behind his wife, a son, a daughter & a granddaughter. 

I ran 3.02 miles for him on 10-29-14 while Brandon worked the Haunted House at the fire department. Prayers for his family & thankful for his service. 

Need a new start...

I've been struggling. Forcing myself through half-hearted, sporadic workouts. It's time I get serious. I was more focused when I wore my activity tracker daily. It stopped working & it seems I did too. It's time to get real. I've gained weight & lost focus. 

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. One of my favorite holidays. Today, I'm spending my Black Friday at home cleaning & focusing on my health. I'm recording everything I eat & drinking more water. I've recoded my weight & measurements. Time for a turn around. Trying to keep my focus on being healthy this time & become obsessed with what "size" I am. Hard to do but I have to. 

Getting back to it...

Getting into my groove again...at least working on it. Running for heroes gives me a motivation different from any other. It's truly an honor. 

On 10-28-14 I ran 2.3 miles then finished walking for a total of 4.5 miles. This workout was in honor of Flight Paramedic Wade Weston who flew with Air-Evac Life Team. Weston passed away, along with his 2 crew mates, when their helicopter went down in an Indiana cornfield. They had just participated in a community day, sponsored by a local fire department, where the helicopter had been on display. They were returning to base at the time of the accident. 

Paramedic Weston was 38. He had been in service for 10 years. He left behind his wife, 2 young daughters, his parents, 5 sisters & a brother.

RIP Parametic Weston

Fighting burnout. A few miles for ME.

I've been fighting burnout lately. I've let so much get to me & get in my mind. Issues & people involved with our local running community have gotten under my skin. I've almost forgotten why I started in the first place. It's been very discouraging. 

When I first started running there were, what seemed like, just a handful of us. We joked about the "closet runners" in the area. We even created a running group to pull us together. Over the years we've developed more. Now there's a running BOOM! There are runners everywhere!! It's a great thing. However, with more people come different opinions & different opinions lead to friction. There's been friction on so many levels & I'm beyond exhausted. 

I believe we should encourage each other. Not put someone down because they don't run like you or as fast as you feel they should or if they don't have the "ideal" runner's body. Build each other up & promote the sport. Above all, remember these races are for charity, not glory. 

Through it all, I've learned that not everyone has the same heart & values as me. Because of this I decided to run for ME a couple times. I did 2.25 miles on 10-22-14 & 2 miles on 10-23-14 & it felt great. At times I guess we all just need to step away & refocus. 

I will make my comeback. I will be better than ever. I just need to remember why I started & stay focused on MY goals. 

107 minutes for 107 fallen...

This past weekend there were 107 fallen firefighters added to the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial. That's 107 dedicated responders who paid the ultimate price over the last year. That's 107 families that gave their loved ones. 

Today I ran for these fallen responders...107 minutes...1 minute in memory of each. I also read through their profiles. So many people, different as night & day. Men, women, young & not so young. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children & grandparents. The one thing they had in common was dedication to a career they loved.

I invite you to go learn about these heroes. Give them the honor & respect they deserve. Pray for their families. God bless them. 

http://www.firehero.org/events/memorial-weekend/about/2014-roll-of-honor/